Leamington Spa to Journey's End- Fin du Voyage!

Well here we are at The Hatton Flight.Again. 23 locks. 3 hours.Not to mention the others they sneak in on the way out of Stratford...



Eh bien, encore une fois le Hatton Flight. 23 ecluses. 3 heures. Et il ne compte pas les autres qu'on rencontre en quittant Stratford...

But the GOOD news is we arrive in Leamington Spa, our last port of call before we take the boat  to Whilton Marina, where it will be sold.Yes, the great, one year adventure (which has lasted 18 months !) is on its final countdown...Just 34 locks and 22 miles left to do..

Mais , le bonne nouvelle est que nous sommes arrive a Leamington Spa, notre dernier ville avant la peniche est amarrer a Whilton Marina pour la mettre a vendre. Ah oui, la grande aventure d'un an ( qui a duree 18 mois ) est presque fini...Il ne reste que 34 ecluses et 22 miles a faire..

Beutiful buildings and cafes in Leamington Spa

Lansdowne Terrace

John, strolling down the Pump Room Gardens Walkway. Enjoying the sunshine and heading for The Episode Hotel.

John fait une promenade au soleil, vers le Episode Hotel.







And here we are , celebrating the 5893 engine hours, 1197 miles and HUNDREDS of locks, with a Champagne Afternoon Tea at the very elegant Episode Hotel. Thank you Rosie!

Et le voila! Nous sommes en train de feter le 5893 heures de moteur,1197 miles et des centaines d'ecluses avec Afternoon Tea avec du champagne. Merci Rosie!

So there we are, we did it! Raise a glass with us to an eventful and enjoyable year or so. Despite the locks, the rain, the minor disasters, the lack of space, the smell of diesel and the few inconveniences of living on a Narrowboat, it's been FUN. ( But don't ask me to do it again....for a few years anyway! ) Thanks for your company.

Eh bien, c'est fait! Levez un verre avec nous pour une annee plein des evenements. Malgre les ecluses,la pluie,les petis desastres,la manque d'espace,l'odeur du gasoil et les petits inconvenients sur une peniche, nous avons bien aime notre aventure beaucoup!! ( Mais ne me demandez pas de refaire....pas avant quelques annees quand meme!!) Merci de votre aimiable presence.









         For them both....
         Pour les deux....

Butterflies!!

Sratford in the sunshine, a very different place.
Missed this 'Two Swans' statue /fountain last time!

And Shakespeare's Birthplace,still busy..







So on to The Butterfly House, which was quite magical...

Mary Arden and Stratford

 Off to Stratford now along the Stratford Canal. This is one of many 'split bridges ' found here where bridge railings and road are split to allow the horse's rope to pass through as it pulls the barge along in horse-drawn days.



Les ponts sur le Stratford Canal sont construire avec un trou au milieu.C'etait fait comme ca pendant l'epoch quand les peniches etaient tirer par un cheval attacher par une grande corde. Le trou permets la corde de passer facilement. 

The lock keepers cottages are also different on this canal.




Les maisons des eclusiers sont differents ici aussi.

Mary Arden's Farm, now run as a working Tudor Farm by the Shakespeare's Birthplace  Trust.

Mary Arden etait la mere de William Shakespeare. Elle a passe son enfance ici.

Percy feeding the geese.

Lunch time.

17th Century truckle bed, the small one tucks under the large one.

Arriving in Bancroft Basin, Stratford-upon-Avon.
It was too wet to do this last year!!!

Arrivant a Stratford-sur- Avon. L'annee derniere c'etait trop humide de faire le trajet ici!!!

The Basin at night.

And Misty goes walkabout!



Notre chat Misty cherche les souris!!

Warwick Castle

Blue sky, sunshine and golden fields along the Grand Union Canal heading for Warwick.John has very little to do !!!




Un ciel bleu, un soleil brillant et les champs fleurissant..nous sommes sur le Grand Union Canal en route pour Warwick et John a presque rien a faire!!

 For the children ( and us!!) The Candy Boat arrives. We have also seen The Cheese Boat, The Craft Boat, The Coal Boat, The Ice Cream Boat ....


Pour les enfants ( et nous! ) The Candy Boat ( Bons bons ) est arrive! Nous avons vu aussi des bateaux qui vends du fromage, des cadeaux, du charbon, des glaces.....

And so we arrive at Warwick Castle which has been here since 1068. Back then it was a wooden motte and bailey construction but this stone built version has been here since 1260.Various Earls of Warwick have lived here until the last owners, the Greville family, sold it in 1978.

Enfin, Warwick Castle qui a ete ici depuis 1069 ( grace a Guillaume de Normandie!!! ) D'abord c'etait construis en bois mais cet version en pierre etait commence en 1260.Depuis cette date la plusieurs 'Earls of Warwick' ont vit ici, jusqu'au les derniers proprietaires, la famille Greville, ont le vendu en 1978.

John, just where he belongs!
John, exactement ou il appartient!

And finally, the firing of the Trebuchet!!










Et le Trebuchet!!

WE'RE BACK!!!!!

Well here we are back on board, both of us, it's only  taken six months !!!

But the irises are blooming....

...the visitors are having a good time...

..and we have a new addition!

We also have sunshine, can't really believe it but this is day two of sunny, warm weather!!! Marvellous.

And so, on to Braunston, NO LOCKS!!!!

OOPS! Nearly forgot this bit, and how could I? We came to a very dramatic stop ten minutes into our re-start thanks to this bit of wood wrapping itself  round the propeller. John Mechanic Man to the rescue, with his hammer, all was well!!!

Wensleydale

Spring has finally arrived up North , so off we went to Wensleydale !

Castle Bolton, also known as Bolton Castle. I have no idea why, but it is impressive.

Aysgarth Falls, beautiful, plenty of walks and picnic places.

  The village of Hawes, where Wensleydale cheese is made - no photos, sorry, too busy eating it!!!          
    Sculpture 'Spring Gathering' carved by Andris Bergs.                                                                                                                                                                

And so to lunch! The Red Berry Pavlova did contain some 

Wensleydale cheese and was as yummy as it looks.

Well, that's it for our lovely weekend. John is heading back to Rugeley to carry on manfully alone (he loves the kudos!!) and I will be staying in Middlesbrough until Dad is well enough to leave. Don't expect too much from the Blog in the meantime as John reckons he has his hands full and I'm not there. I also have the camera....See you soon I hope!!!